Telecom Review Submissions Posted

Respondents argue pros, cons of need for regulation Nearly 100 service providers, telecom service end users, provincial governments, industry consultants, trade associations and other interested parties made submissions to the Telecom Policy Review Panel by its August 15 deadline. Telemanagement will focus on two counterposed positions on the most hotly contested issue: telecom regulation. As expected, the Coalition for Competitive Telecommunications (CCT), acting on behalf of some of the country’s largest industry associations, stated that telecom regulation should largely be left to market forces and that the CRTC should intervene as little as possible. Regulation, it notes, should be required only if a dominant player is using anti-competitive behaviour to thwart competition. "The Coalition believes that the current policy and legislative framework must be changed to eliminate the current statutory presumption that regulation is required unless the CRTC decides to forbear," it states. The Coalition recognizes, however, that there are cases where regulation is required, citing the example of provision of essential services by incumbent telephone companies to other carriers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that retail services should come under some form of economic or price regulation, the Coalition states. At the other end of the spectrum is the Coalition for Better Competition, a group made up of service providers and IT companies, most notably AOL Canada Inc., MCI Canada, MTS Allstream Inc., Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. and Yak Communications (Canada) Inc. The group believes that there is no need for a major overhaul of the Canadian telecommunications legislative and regulatory framework. "Small changes can make a big difference," it says. Its two key recommendations are the elimination of regulatory restrictions on reseller entry into the local services market and the revamping of the existing regulatory framework with respect to the supply of bottleneck facilities and services. When it comes to the pricing of these services on a wholesale basis, the service provider coalition suggests that rates charged should be no greater than the price the supplying carrier pays itself to use the facility. It also wants the CRTC to have increased control over access to third-party infrastructure such as transmission lines, hydro poles and public highways. Public hearings on telecommunications policy will be held in two stages. The first, to focus on broadband access related issues, will be held in Yukon on September 9. The second, centering on regulatory reform, technology adoption and productivity, will take place in Ottawa October 24-26. The 97 submissions are available at www.telecomreview.ca. VoIP Appeals Go to CabinetOpponents of the CRTC’s decision to regulate incumbent telcos’ Voice over IP offerings as traditional voice services are out in full force appealing the May 12 landmark ruling to the federal Cabinet. A couple of weeks after four of the country’s major incumbent telephone companies jointly appealed the ruling, the Coalition for Competitive Telecommunications (CCT) weighed in. The CCT petition states that "the CRTC’s Decision, if unchanged, will jeopardize competition and undermine innovation and investment in the VoIP market specifically and the telecommunications industry in general." Bell Canada, Telus Corp., SaskTel and Aliant Inc. launched their appeal at the end of July, stating that the CRTC "got it wrong" when it decided that VoIP was similar to circuit-switched voice. The telcos say their ability to serve business and residential customers in an effective manner is severely limited because of restrictions regarding promotions and bundles placed on them by the commission’s ruling. Shaw Says MTS Won’t Port Numbers Shaw Communications says its Shaw Digital Phone service is being negatively affected by MTS Allstream Inc.’s refusal to port certain local numbers in Winnipeg. Despite repeated assurances to the contrary, Shaw says, MTS continues to refuse to port a high percentage of residential telephone numbers. Shaw asks the CRTC to order the Manitoban ILEC by September 7 to take corrective action. Local Forbearance HearingThe CRTC has published the schedule for public hearings into the forbearance of local exchange services, to be held September 26-29 in Gatineau, Quebec. Regulation of Small ILECs The CRTC has initiated a process to establish a new regulatory regime for the country’s small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs). The Canadian Independent Telephone Company Joint Task Force, which represents 39 small ILECs throughout the country, proposed at the end of July that the existing framework should be extended, with certain modifications. Parties wishing to participate in the proceeding must notify the commission by September 8. New Lawful Access Bill IP networks could become subject to new eavesdrop powers by the police and national security agencies if a federal bill, to be introduced this fall, gains passage. The bill would give police the power to force ISPs to hand over information on subscriber Web surfing habits, including online pseudonyms and whether an individual has the ability to develop a computer virus. Broadband over Powerline A ubiquitous third hard-wired network, Broadband over PowerLine (BPL), is under consideration for licensing by Industry Canada. The technology holds great promise for strengthening national competition. BPL isn’t without problems, however. The emerging transmission network could possibly interfere with existing radio systems in the 2 MHz to 80 MHz range. Comments are to be submitted to the department by November 28, 2005. Bell Appeals CDNA RulingBell Canada is appealing a portion of the Competitor Digital Network Access decision. It wants the CRTC to correct inconsistencies with respect to the effective date for the access service charge and the effective date for all of the other access service rate elements. The alleged discrepancy is between information set out in paragraph 505 and 550 of the decision. IXPL Lines DeregulatedThe CRTC has forborne from regulating high-capacity/digital data interexchange private line services (IXPL) where competitors are now offering similar services.

Telecom Review Submissions Posted

News | August 25, 2005

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